"Nightmare" Really A Dream For Baylor

All-American Ekpe Udoh became the highest-drafted player in program history when he was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Nicknamed "The Nightmare" for his defensive prowess, his middle name ("Friday") and his uniform number (13), Udoh established Baylor and Big 12 Conference single-season blocked shots records with 133 rejections in 2009-10. The 2010 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and second-team All-Big 12 selection averaged 13.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 2.7 assists in his lone season at Baylor after transferring from Michigan.

Speaking immediately after the draft, Udoh described his love for Baylor to the Houston Chronicle. "I am really proud to be here because Baylor is a great school and Coach [Scott] Drew has taken us out of the darkness. I think I will be the first of a few to come out of the program in the next few years."

Seven Big 12 players went in the first round this year, but none higher than Udoh. The 6-10 forward is the fourth NBA first-round pick ever from Baylor, following in the footsteps of Vinnie Johnson (1979, seventh overall pick), Terry Teagle (1982, 16th overall) and Brian Skinner (1998, 22nd overall). All three went on to long NBA careers: 13 years for Johnson, 11 for Teagle and 12-plus for Skinner, who is still active.

Udoh's selection means a Baylor Bear was picked in the first round of each of the three major professional sports leagues' drafts over a span of just 15 months. Jason Smith was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, followed two months later by Aaron Miller, a first-round pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.